'So Miss Adler, you have no idea where this jewellery came from?'
'I know how I got it and I presume it originally came from a mine or two but I know nothing of its life between those times.'
Cal's frustration was growing. Adler really did know what she was doing. In a way it was a refreshing change to be confronted with someone who it would be difficult to trick into confessing but given his current location, Cal wanted nothing more than to be done with Adler and this whole case ASAP.
'Have you noticed Foster that she keeps answering my questions literally to avoid actually saying anything?'
'Hmm… it's a classic technique. You really are very good at it Miss Adler'
'Not perfect though. You've slipped up.'
Irene's face remained under control although both her questioners noticed a quick flash of realisation in her eyes.
'You told us something very important there. You know how the jewellery came to you. How exactly was that?'
Irene looked ready to ignore the question or spin some kind of tale so Foster butted in with an obvious reminder of the situation.
'Miss Adler. We are professionals; if you lie, we will know.'
She sighed and began to talk.
'I was playing poker with some friends and one of them decided to raise the stakes and add the necklace. Someone watching liked my style and gave me a pair of matching earrings a few weeks later; the ones in that photo.'
'Not tat I believe a word you just said; mainly because from what I've seen you've got a terrible poker face…' began Cal, lying through his teeth, 'but, if this story of yours was true, what would the name of your blind admirer be?'
Irene smiled serenely, instantly raising Cal's blood pressure.
'That would be telling Mr Lightman. I won't give you the name, but it was a gentleman, rich, but too old for me. And that's why he isn't banging on the door right now.'
Foster put her hands behind her back pretending to stretch. Lightman understood immediately and picking up his file, he turned to leave, retrieving his recently pilfered watch from Irene's had before he did so. Foster followed barely a second later. The two compared notes before Cal delivered his opinion to the plice captain.
'We both came to the same conclusion, which is good; but you're not going to like it.'
'Really… and I've simply loved having a pompous idiot bossing me and my staff around in my office?'
'I don't like the term pompous, or your tone. You're the one who asked for our help!' Cal rose to the captain's bait immediately.
Foster jumped between the two egos before they could start brawling.
'Boys! Either we can continue the pissing match or we can get Adler convicted. What we think is…'
'She only told one lie in there.'
This got the captain intrigued and he had to interrupt, voicing his suspicions.
'Which was that the earrings were a gift?'
'Which was that she wouldn't tell us who gave them.'
